NEWS: Alfa DNA Driving Mode For Whole Range: Film – Free-running with Ronnie Shalvis

Alfa Romeo’s signature Alfa D.N.A driving mode selector will now feature across the entire 2014 Alfa Romeo range as standard, regardless of engine or trim level. And to mark the range update, Alfa Romeo teamed up with one of the world's elite parkour athletes, Ronnie Shalvis, to put the Alfa D.N.A. system to the ultimate agility test.
In the film sequence above, Ronnie takes on both Alfa MiTo and Alfa Giulietta in the ultimate urban playground, pitting man against machine on both road and ice surfaces to see who has the greater control of their environment. Basically, it's a viral video to make something that sounds quite dull, look cool… and show the DNA system is not all PR fluff.
The 2014 Alfa MiTo and 2014 Alfa Giulietta will feature the driving mode selector with three distinctive settings – ‘Dynamic’, ‘Natural’ and ‘All-Weather’ – while the Alfa Romeo 4C supercar has an additional forth setting specifically for track driving: ‘Race’ mode!
Ronnie Shalvis commented: "With parkour, you have to adapt to varying and challenging environments, whilst remaining agile and dynamic. If you fail to respond to a situation or mistime a move, it could result in serious injury. When everything works together, though, and you nail those difficult manoeuvres, it’s an amazing feeling! Making the film with Alfa Romeo was a fantastic experience and I think it really demonstrates how having that control of your environment lets you stay safe but also have a lot of fun."
Damien Dally, Head of Brand, Alfa Romeo UK, noted: "The Alfa D.N.A. system ensures that every 2014 Alfa Romeo can adapt to the prevailing driving conditions, varying the cars numerous dynamic characteristics from power delivery to steering feel and VDC stability control intervention. Despite its sophistication, the driver only has to simply flick the switch to select the appropriate driving mode and the car will take care of the rest."
About Alfa D.N.A:
The Alfa D.N.A. system lets drivers manually select from one of several different driving modes depending on the road conditions: ‘Dynamic’, ‘Natural’ and ‘All-Weather’, as well as ‘Race’ in the Alfa Romeo 4C. Once a mode is selected, Alfa D.N.A then automatically adjusts settings for throttle response, power delivery, power steering assistance, VDC stability control and braking Pre-Fill. Where fitted, ALFA TCT gear-changes and adaptive suspension settings are also adjusted.
DYNAMIC
‘Dynamic’ mode provides a more immediate throttle response, with making fifty percent of the engine’s torque available within the first 10 percent of pedal travel. Pre-Fill braking is activated to boost braking performance and more steering weight is added for a sportier, more involving drive. In addition, the electronic dynamic and stability systems (VDC, DST, ASR) become less intrusive and for models fitted with the ALFA TCT gearbox, the gearshift characteristics are reconfigured.
NATURAL
Natural mode is designed for everyday driving with the performance levels drivers expect from an Alfa Romeo but delivered more progressively with optimum fuel consumption. 
ALL-WEATHER In All-Weather mode Alfa’s VDC (Vehicle Dynamic Control) system is more intrusive whilst ASR (Anti-Slip Regulator) is lightened, allowing the wheels to slip and gain traction in icy conditions. Models equipped with ALFA TCT can also pull away in second gear, further helping avoid wheel spin.
RACE (Alfa Romeo 4C only) Activated by holding the selector forward whilst in ‘Dynamic’ mode, ‘Race’ mode puts the driver completely in control, disabling stability control (re-engaging only under emergency braking) and ASR. Alfa’s Q2 differential control remains active. ‘Race’ mode allows drivers to push the Alfa Romeo 4C to its limit on the track. For more details visit: www.alfaromeo.co.uk

NEWS: Alfa 4C Geneva Debut

Alfa Romeo's gorgeous, exciting compact, rear-drive, mid-engined, two-seater supercar is set to make its début at the 83rd Geneva Motor Show this year. Alfa says: "The new Alfa Romeo 4C is the result of experience built up with the Alfa Romeo 8C Competizione model produced in the Maserati plant in Modena and it will be available for purchase in 2013, marking the return of the Italian brand to the United States." It's small – less than 4 metres in length, 200 cm wide, 118 cm high and with a wheelbase of less than 2.4 metres. It will be powered by a new (revised version of the Quadrifoglio Verde version of the Giulietta) 4 cylinder 1750 Turbo Petrol all-aluminium engine, with trick twin scroll turbo and and a revolutionary scavenging control system that gets rid of any turbo lag. It will also have Alfa's TCT twin clutch automatic transmission, with a new Alfa 'DNA' ECU/gearbox mapping selector with a new Race mode. The chassis meanwhile is 100% carbon fibre with load-bearing and structural function, so we can expect it to be light, with a weight to power ratio less than 4 kg/HP.
The 4C name is an acronym – "drawing its inspiration from the brand’s glorious past, projecting the values of technology and emotions into the future. Indeed, it refers to Alfa Romeo’s great sporting tradition: the acronyms 8C and 6C in the 1930s and 1940s distinguished cars – both racing and road – fitted with the powerful ‘eight cylinders’ and the innovative ‘six cylinders’, confirming in its design layout and construction the goal of achieving the power/weight ratio of an authentic supercar, less than 4 kg/HP, yet focusing not merely on the maximum power delivered, but on limiting the weight to guarantee maximum agility and top performance. To this end, the Alfa Romeo 4C uses technologies and materials derived from super sports cars (including the Alfa Romeo 8C Competizione) – carbon fibre, aluminium, rear-wheel drive – and technologies from the latest standard models from Alfa Romeo, but updated to enhance the sports appeal of the new car even further. This is demonstrated by the new 1750 Turbo Petrol all-aluminium engine with direct injection, the sophisticated Alfa TCT twin dry clutch transmission and the Alfa DNA selector with the unprecedented Race mode."
Looking forward to that... you? RWD turbo fun. But is it a supercar, with a 1.8-litre engine? Even with those looks and all the trick carbon, electro goodies? You decide... 

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VIDEO: Uma Thurman + Alfa Romeo = Sexy!

Yeah, I know you've all seen it, but not today, right? Sit back and enjoy Uma Thurman enjoying herself in the Alfa Giulietta. And read our test in the latest issue of Road Magazine here.

NEWS: Alfa's D.N.A Aiding Winter Driving & Your Wallet

A car we've just had on test set to appear in Road Magazine soon – Alfa Romeo's Giulietta – may be front-wheel-drive, but it's got a traction trick up its sleeve in their clever D.N.A system. The new, intelligent D.N.A Vehicle Dynamic Control system (as fitted on both Alfa MiTo and Giulietta ranges), enables drivers to select from ‘D’ (Dynamic), ‘N’ (Natural) and ‘A’ (All-Weather) driving modes at the simple flick of a switch. And in All-Weather mode, the ASR (Anti Slip Regulation) system continuously monitors tyre grip, the car’s yaw and the steering angle – decreasing the throttle opening and applying brakes to individual wheels to maintain stability, whilst also boosting the VDC (Vehicle Dynamic Control) system and DST (Dynamic Steering Torque) feature (providing steering torque movements to prompt natural correction of oversteer). And it works a treat it has to be said, not to mention being easy to operate, at the flick of a switch: 

Damien Dally, Head of Brand, Alfa Romeo UK said: "Innovations such as the Alfa D.N.A. system help make Alfa Giulietta one of the safest models in its class with a 5-star Euro NCAP rating including an 86% score in the Safety Assist category. We think it’s a great choice all year round, but it’s also the smart choice in these tough Winter months when drivers rely more on their vehicle’s technology to keep them safe and in control."

Best of all, customers who brave the conditions in the last few days of January to take out an ‘All-Weather’ test-drive can currently benefit from 5 Years Warranty, £2,000 Alfa Romeo deposit contribution and 5.5% APR across the Giulietta range. And, as an extra incentive customers can benefit from an additional £500 on any new Alfa Giulietta registered before 31 January 2013. For full terms and conditions or for more information on Alfa Romeo visit http://www.alfaromeo.co.uk